any structure that resembles a sail
"The ancient warship relied on its large, triangular sails to catch the wind and speed across the open sea."
A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
"The geological feature known as a sail is an acronym describing a specific snow avalanche impact landform found in mountainous regions."
Acronym of snow avalanche impact landform.
In plain English: A sail is a piece of fabric attached to a boat that catches wind to help it move forward.
"We spent our holiday on a small sail across the calm lake."
Usage: Use "sail" when referring specifically to the fabric attached to a boat that catches the wind for propulsion. Do not use it interchangeably with terms like "canvas," which describes only the material rather than the functional component itself.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
"We sailed the Atlantic"
"He sailed the Pacific all alone"
travel on water propelled by wind
"I love sailing, especially on the open sea"
"the ship sails on"
To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
"The old wooden ship sailed slowly across the calm bay, its canvas billowing in the gentle breeze."
In plain English: To sail means to move across water using wind power on a boat with sails.
"We decided to sail across the lake during our summer vacation."
The word "sail" comes from Old English and has remained in use since at least the 10th century to describe a piece of canvas or other material used on ships for catching wind. It traveled directly into Middle English without changing its core meaning, eventually becoming the standard term we know today.